International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(4): 1904-1909 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 www.chemijournal.com Potentials of coconut (Cocos nucifera) based IJCS 2020; 8(4): 1904-1909 © 2020 IJCS agroforestry system in soil quality management in Received: 10-05-2020 Accepted: 12-06-2020 coastal Odisha NK Panda Department of Silviculture & NK Panda, SK Sarangi, SN Subudhi and HK Das Agroforestry, College of Forestry, Odisha University of DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i4t.9907 Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Abstract SK Sarangi This paper presents a study carried out in Puri district of Odisha during June 2015 – May 2016 to Project Director, Shristi NGO, determine the soil quality in coconut based agroforestry system in 15 different sizes (0.1 to 1.5 acre) of Keonjhar, Odisha, India land holdings. The chosen coconut based agroforestry systems were visited in three cropping seasons such as kharif, rabi and summer and the observations on floral composition, height of plants, number of SN Subudhi trees, number of livestock animals and birds, number of common plant species, different seasonal crops M.Sc. (Forestry), College of were recorded. The soil chemical analysis were carried out to assess the organic carbon, N, P and K Forestry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, content along with the pH range. There are four different strata in which different perennial species were Odisha, India associated with coconut. The coconut based agroforestry systems of various sizes are playing important role for the household and the soil quality management which include productive role, protective and HK Das ameliorative role, recreational and educational role as well as developmental role giving various kinds of M.Sc. (Forestry), College of tangible and intangible benefits. The coconut based agroforestry system of size 0.8 acre was found to be Forestry, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India best among the holding sizes studied with regard to various functions including soil health management in coastal Odisha. Keywords: Coconut, agroforestry, nitrogen, phosphorus, pH range, organic carbon, role, Odisha 1. Introduction In the arena of climate change, agriculture continues to struggle to meet the burgeoning food demandwhile sustainably managing the threats of soil erosion, land degradation and so on. The declaration of 2015 as ‘International year of soils’ by UN general assembly has certainly emphasized importance of soils in sustainable food systems. The need of the hour is to identify and promote land based systems and practices that maintains and improves soil resources which is crucial to our wellbeing. Among the various land use options today we have, agroforestry, which focuses on integration of trees in land use systems particularly Nitrogen fixing trees or multipurpose tree species in a view to increase the organic matter content and improving fertility status of soil, merits adequate attention. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) plays a significant role in the agrarian economy of India. Coconut is grown in more than 93 countries of the world in an area of 12.29 million ha with a total production in terms of copra equivalent of 11.04 million MT. Indonesia (25.63%), Philippines (23.91%) and India (19.20%) are the major coconut producing countries of the world. Coconut based agroforestry means agriculture along with woody component with coconut plant as a compulsory. In India the coconut based agroforestry are generally found in tropical and sub-tropical areas and characterized by high species diversity and usually three to four vertical canopy strata. These agroforestry systems consist of different layer of species starting from seasonal crops, perennial crops, woddy components. The lower most being dominated by different vegetables like brinjal, greens, turmeric, ginger, mushroom, okra, chilli, tomato, cabbage, dioscorea, etc. and the second layer is comprising food plants such as banana, papaya, lemon, etc. The third layer is occupied by Corresponding Author: fruit trees like guava, drumstick, custard apple, etc. The upper layer is the tree layer which can NK Panda Department of Silviculture & be divided into two, consisting of the emergent full grown timber and fruit trees having height Agroforestry, College of more than 20m and medium size trees of 10-20m. In the upper layer species like Mangifera Forestry, Odisha University of indica, Samanea saman, Bambusa vulgaris, B. tulda, Cocos nucifera, Areca catechu, Samania Agriculture & Technology, saman, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Aegle mormalus, Tamarindus indica, Azadirachta indica, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India ~ 1904 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies http://www.chemijournal.com Leucaena leucocephala, etc. are grown. In developing tree species associated in these strata were siris, rain trees, countries particularly in India coconut is either grown as eucalyptus and karanj. No perennial plant was found with mono-crop or as major component in the multiple cropping coconut in the holding size of 1.1acre and above. In very systems with or without livestock. In Odisha it occupies more small holding size like T1 and T2 the presence of other trees than 60 % of the perennial crop area and more than 30% of were zero or negligible because of not availability of space. In the total cropped area in costal districts mostly Puri, relatively higher holding size (T12 to T15) no other trees were Jagtsingpur, Balasore, Kendrapada and Khurda. Mostly due to associated because in such holdings sizes paddy is grown water logged situation and favour in climatic condition add which needs more access to light. The common perennial interest on coconut plantation. Apart from pure coconut plants were arecanut, mango and bamboo up to 1.2acre size plantation many farmers and the households are practicing holding in the strata of 10-15m height. In relatively higher different crop combination along with coconut. The coconut size holding within this limit (T3 to T12) additional species farming system is very promising as spacing is wide, the like acacia, teak and jackfruit are grown. No perennial trees system affords higher incidence of light under the canopy and are found in the holding size T13 to T15 other than coconut in the limited effective root zone of the coconuts allows other these strata. People grow these perennial trees along with crops within the grove. Especially in the costal part of the coconut depending upon holding size to meet various district, vast lowland and homestead land areas are being requirements like food, fodder, fuel, timber etc. in addition to planted with coconut. The advent of population pressure, less get a congenial microclimate and generate additional money lands to cultivate and the worsening marginal conditions of and employment on the same land holding. In the strata 5- farmlands prompt the need to go into farming systems that 10m height mostly crops were in different holding sizes of would optimize use of the limited land resource, thus coconut based agroforestry system. Drumstick, papaya and intercropping, a form of agroforestry gained popularity among guava are found commonly in small size holding like T1 and farmers. Basing on this background, an attempt was taken to T2. In relation to higher holdings size like T3 to T12 the assess the various role played and soil quality management by common perennial plants were guava, papaya, pomegranate, coconut based agroforestry system in coastal Odisha. drumstick and bael. People have grown these plants in different sizes of holding primarily to supplement the food 2. Materials and Methods from these plants. The wider spacing of coconut favors The present study was carried out in the Puri district of growing these fruit plants under it. In the strata of less than Odisha, a coastal district along the Bay of Bengal during June 5m height the common plants are citrus, banana and curry leaf 2015 - May 2016. The experiment was laid out in from T1 to T12 holding size. People are deliberately kept these Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three replications. For plants to get food and leaf from these plants which are this the district was divided into three regions, each region frequently required in household of rural people. In holding represented one replication. The region-I covered the eastern size 1.3acre to 1.5acre no associated perennial plants were part of the Puri district comprising four blocks such as Gop, found associated with coconut in any strata. This is because Kaktpur, Astaranga and Puri. The region-II covered North the higher size holding are mostly used for coconut paddy central part of the district comprising Pipili, Delanga, cropping system in the district. Different plants have occupied Satyabadi and Kanasa blocks. The region-III covered the in different strata may be due their growth rate, light western part of the district comprising Chilika, Krushnaprasad requirement and deliberate arrangement by the grower to and Brahmagiri blocks. In each region, the potentials of intensify the coconut based land use system and explore coconut based agroforestry in soil quality management of 15 maximum benefit. Similar study have been reported by different sizes were studied. The observations were recorded Rahaman et al., (2013) [19], Nair, (2008) [17] and Fernades et on floral composition, number of common plant species, al., (1984) [8]. height of plants growing in different strata, number of trees and number of livestock animals and birds in coconut based 3.2. Number of perennial plant in coconut based agroforestry